A guide to the ultimate doughnuts across SA

If you're crazy about doughnuts as much as we are then you need this guide in your life. Find your spot in Cape Town, Joburg, Durban and PE.

29 Sep 2016

Doughnut variety and crazy concoctions have us totally in awe and losing all self-control. There's the cronut, the conut, dessert flavoured doughnuts and even over-the-top milkshakes topped with doughnuts. If you love these or still need to try them, or even if you're after a simple glazed or cinnamon doughnut then read on to find the best in town. Cape Town

The clue is in the name. This spot serves the most decadent over-the-top sweet treats in Cape Town. Their Instagram account alone will give you a mild sugar rush and the doughnuts, AH! They're smothered, dipped and topped in chocolate mousse, nuts, pretzels, caramel popcorn, coconut and more. They also have a range of dessert flavour doughnuts like crème brûlée and lemon meringue, as well as doughnut ice cream sandwiches. My Sugar certainly wins the prize for the most inventive doughnuts around.

A photo posted by My Sugar (@mysugar_capetown) on May 21, 2016 at 4:01am PDT

Junior, City BowlOne of our favourite Instagram accounts, with perfectly muted tones and equally perfect doughnuts (and burgers of course). The doughnuts are extremely photogenic and baked/fried fresh in-house every day. You can choose from baked doughnuts or the classic yeast-risen, fried doughnuts. The Junior team are constantly developing new flavours like the recent blue poppy seed cake doughnut with lemon glaze. Oh and did we mention they deliver? Order some for a special occasion or for no occasion at all!

A photo posted by Junior (@_____junior__) on Nov 13, 2015 at 2:14am PST

Jason Bakery, CBDHome of the doughssant, and master of bread, Jason gifts the city of Cape Town each Saturday morning with an incredibly creative concoction of the doughnut croissant hybrid. To find out the surprise flavour, you need to keep an eye on his Instagram or Jason Bakery's Instagram. The last few weeks have featured a 7 deadly sins theme with Gluttony including toasted peanut butter ganache, salted caramel popcorn, marshmallow and and a mini doughnut on top! His doughssants are baked works of art that could knock the original cronut right off its pedestal.

Queen of Tarts, ObservatoryThis café and bakery featured in our cupcake guide, but they are also, more recently, known for their doughnuts. They do delightful mini doughnuts in pretty pastels and white, with different toppings like macadamia nuts and white chocolate, as well as the larger classic cinnamon doughnuts. The quaint blue-walled and checkered-floored café is a lovely peaceful spot for tea or lunch.

A photo posted by Queen of Tarts (@queenoftartssa) on Jul 28, 2016 at 11:17pm PDT

Joburg

Dope Donuts (special delivery)A dedicated doughnut kitchen that provides online orders and delivery (must be made 48 hours in advance). Their doughnuts are playful, some brightly coloured and come in a variety of flavours or you can ask for special creations which they are known to do for birthdays and weddings. They use fun names like the Battery acid doughnut, a coffee infused ring of heaven, and the Boonut done in a strawberry glaze. Our recommendation is the original Dope Doughnut. You can order 12 for R240. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

XO Patisserie, MelvilleThis little spot in 27 Boxes is dedicated to the magnificent cronut, the croissant-doughnut hybrid that has taken the world by storm. You can't get these everywhere in South Africa, so its a real treat when you do come across one, especially when they are this eccentric. All cronuts are filled with cream and topped up in a variety of flavours like Oreo or chocolate nut. XO also serves the ultimate freakshakeseither in a double-thick Stracciatella flavour or coffee-chocolate Sicilian gelato-based flavour, both topped with a cronut of your choice. Recommendation: the salted caramel cronut.

A photo posted by XO Patisserie (@xo_patisserie) on May 2, 2016 at 1:23am PDT

Krispy Kreme, Sandton and RosebankThe original doughnut providers, first opening in 1937. Krispy Kreme glazed us with their presence last year and are supposed to spread across the country in due course. They offer signature doughnuts that vary between their international franchises. SA is lucky to have a decadent gourmet range and limited edition flavours that change constantly like the milk tart flavour and peppermint crisp flavour. Do yourself a favour and try the Crunchie doughnut, and the original glazed is a must for first timers.

Tonka Bean Bakery, NewtownOwner and head baker Shakil spent much time in San Francisco mastering his patisserie skills after doing a stint at The Test Kitchen in Cape Town. His craft and creativity is undeniable, and this carries through to his filled fluffy doughnuts. Get these with lemon curd or Nutella cream and oreo.

Belle's featured on our cupcake guide, and as doughnuts go, they excel in this department as well. They make a range of gourmet, extravagant, totally indulgent doughnuts. Flavours include strawberry and pistachio, coffee and custard, lemon custard and nutty chocolate. And if a gourmet doughnut just won't cut it, why not try the doughnut delight freakshake,with caramel sauce, topped with a doughnut AND a macaron. Also Belle's does a special in which you can grab a coffee and a doughnut for R40.

Durban

Wicked Donuts, Durban North and WestvilleWicked serves proper American-style doughnuts made fresh daily. You can be sure to find a large variety of flavours on display every day including fudge brownie, peanut butter bomb, traditional glazed doughnuts and over 20 more to choose from. Enjoy doughnut happy hour between 8pm and 9pm at all their branches where you can buy 1 and get 1 free. They can be found in The Pavilion Shopping Centre in Westville and the Astra Centre in Durban North.

Old Town Italy, UmhlangaThis place is Italian deli heaven and one of the best eateries in Durban. Like everything they serve, they make incredible doughnuts, done the Italian way - which might be the only way you'll ever want to eat a doughnut again! They make Bombolonas which is a traditonal filled donut, here filled with Nutella. Aside from these, Old Town Italy also makes cronuts in different flavours, and they are the original South African conut makers. A conut is an ice cream cone made out of a donut and, of course, topped with a scoop of gelato (see below). We've tried it and it is not to be missed.

A photo posted by Food24_sa (@food24_sa) on Sep 10, 2016 at 5:33am PDT

I Want My Coffee, UmhlangaYes I want my coffee and a doughnut please, because what compliments each other more? These coffee enthusiasts serve simple doughnuts, topped with chocolate icing. The space is cosy with industrial finishes, and has a large center table perfect for doing some work. The coffee beans come from The Bean Green Coffee Company, a Glenwood roastery.

Banneton is still fairly new, but they have made quite a name for themselves with their wood-fired artisanal breads and baked sweet treats. The space looks like a classic bakery with trays of freshly baked goods on display, and an exposed baking area so the whole process of their preparation is on show. Doughnuts are a prominent feature in their sweet department and they specialise in the no-hole filled doughnuts with fillings such as lemon curd, chocolate mousse and salted caramel.